Agenda Item # 3
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
July 24, 2018
Agenda Report # 13
TO: Mayor and Councilors
SUBJECT: FY19 Public Defender Contract
INITIATED BY: Finance Department
Recommendation: Approval is requested to enter into an agreement for Indigent
Defense Services between Circuit Public Defender Office of the Chattahoochee
Judicial Circuit and Muscogee County in the amount of $2,121,625 from July 2018
to June 2019 and authorize payment to Georgia Public Defender Standards Council
(GPDSC) for $1,522,421 and for $76,121, 5% administrative fee (GPDSC payment is
included in the total amount of $2,121,594); authorize the Mayor and/or City
Manager to have signature authority.
Background: The Circuit Public Defender will provide public defender personnel
in Superior, Juvenile, and Recorder?s courts totaling $2,121,625 of which
$1,522,421 and an administrative fee of $76,121 is paid in monthly installments
to the GPDSC for a total of $1,598,542. These services include payroll, fringe
benefits, training, travel, computer hardware, computer software and legal
research software. Support staff and operational expenses are funded in the
FY19 budget for a total of $523,084. Included in this FY19 contract is a
continuation of funding for two Assistant Public Defenders funded from the
General Fund for the Rapid Resolution Initiative that began in FY16. This
contract also includes funding for three (3) Assistant Public Defenders of
which 2 were added in FY17 and 1 was added in FY19 as well as supplements for
the Chief Public Defender and Assistant Chief Public Defender due to providing
representation in Recorder?s Court. In the contract, the prorated share of all
costs are outlined as follows: Muscogee - $1,962,138; Chattahoochee - $5,125;
Harris - $114,000; Marion - $12,193; Talbot - $12,220; Taylor - $15,949 for a
total of $2,121,625. Muscogee County acts as the fiscal agent for the Circuit
Public Defender.
Analysis: The Circuit Public Defender, City Attorney?s Office and the Finance
Department have reviewed this contract.
Financial Considerations: The agreement is budgeted in the FY19 Adopted Budget.
Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement: This is an annual contract.
Legal Considerations: The Columbus Consolidated Government is eligible to enter
into this contract.
Recommendations/Actions: Approval is requested to enter into an agreement for
Indigent Defense Services between Circuit Public Defender Office of the
Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit and Muscogee County in the amount of $2,121,625
from July 2018 to June 2019 and authorize payment to Georgia Public Defender
Standards Council (GPDSC) for $1,522,421 and for $76,121, 5% administrative fee
(GPDSC payment is included in the total amount of $2,121,594); authorize the
Mayor and/or City Manager to have signature authority.
A RESOLUTION
NO____
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT FOR INDIGENT DEFENSE
SERVICES BETWEEN CIRCUIT PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICE OF THE CHATTAHOOCHEE JUDICIAL
CIRCUIT AND MUSCOGEE COUNTY IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,121,594 FROM JULY 2018 TO JUNE
2019 AND AUTHORIZE PAYMENT TO THE GEORGIA PUBLIC DEFENDER STANDARDS COUNCIL
(GPDSC) IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,598,542 PAID IN MONTHLY INSTALLMENTS OF $133,211.83
OF WHICH IS INCLUDED IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT.
WHEREAS, the Circuit Public Defender Office of the Chattahoochee Judicial
Circuit was created in January 2005 by the Georgia Indigent Defense Act of 2003
and provides that a consolidated government may contract with the circuit
public defender for the provision of criminal defense for indigent persons in
Superior and Juvenile courts; and,
WHEREAS, the contract specifies the amount of $1,598,542 for state paid
personnel and administrative fee for the period of July 2018 to June 2019 and
Columbus Consolidated Government personnel and operating expenses of $523,084
with Muscogee County?s prorated share of all expenses to be $1,962,138.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
That the Mayor and the City Manager are hereby authorized to enter into an
agreement for Indigent Defense Services between Circuit Public Defender Office
of the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit and Muscogee County in the amount of
$2,121,625 from July 2018 to June 2019 and authorize payment to the GPDSC in
the amount of $1,522,421 plus the administrative fee of $76,121 to be paid in
monthly installments of $133,211.83 which is included in the total amount; and
authorize the Mayor and City Manager to have signature authority.
__________________
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia held on
the__________ day of _____________, 2018 and adopted at said meeting by the
affirmative vote of _____________ members of said Council.
Councilor Allen voting __________.
Councilor Baker voting __________.
Councilor Barnes voting __________.
Councilor Davis voting __________.
Councilor Garrett voting __________.
Councilor Huff voting __________.
Councilor Thomas voting __________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.
Councilor Woodson voting __________.
_______________________________ ________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Teresa Pike Tomlinson, Mayor
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